I've tested a bunch of Shark vacuums and they all have the same problem

Let's get one thing clear before we start: Shark makes some great vacuums. But having tested a number of different models from this brand, I've noticed they all fail in one specific way. It was especially clear in a recent group test to find the best cordless vacuum, in which I compared options from a range of brands side-by-side.

Here it is: user-friendliness. And in particular, how the brand conveys information to the user. It might seem like a small thing, but it can be ultra-frustrating, and I suspect it means some people aren't getting the best from their appliance, simply because it's not clear how to use it properly.

Take, for example, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless. It's a stellar cleaner, smashing through all my suction trials in the group test and earning the highest overall score in this area. But making sense of it is a nightmare.

 A riddle wrapped up in a mystery

Upon switching the PowerDetect Cordless on, a selection of different icons flashes up on the screen. The Eco and Boost symbols are easily discernible, and having used a number of hi-tech vacuums, it was clear to me that the target symbol represented some kind of Auto mode.

But a fourth symbol also appears: a water droplet. I've never seen this appear in use, and scoured the product manual for clues as to what it might mean, but it's not mentioned anywhere (it's absent from "Instructions for use" and "Error codes"). I've also emailed Shark directly for help, and so far they're as baffled as I am. To this day, I don't know what it means or why it's there.

To add insult to injury, Shark insists on having each icon flash up individually on screen every time you switch the vacuum on. This mini-display becomes tedious quite quickly, and especially because it's accompanied by a second or two's pause before the power actually kicks in. Shark's vacuums are the only vacuums I've tested that have this delay, and it's frustrating if you just want to do a quick clean.

In its Auto mode, the vacuum will sense dirt on the floor and boost or lower suction in response, to clean it efficiently without wasting battery. To illustrate this, Shark has also added a color-changing ring to the outside of the screen. The colors it has chosen are white for clean (although Shark insists it's actually blue, but let's not quibble on that) and purple for dirty – not the most intuitive, and hard to distinguish between, too.

The vacuum switches on and off with a one-press button, but there's no second button to switch modes. For the longest time, I couldn't figure out how to switch modes at all. Very late in the day, I discovered you could press in what I assumed to be a comfort-focused bit of molding under the index finger on the handle to toggle modes.

For those used to turning their vacuum on and off using a trigger in exactly this position, and pressing a separate button to switch modes, this reversal of functions will take some getting used to. Oh, and the On button can't be reached from your holding hand either, so you'll need to have a hand free at all times while cleaning – although this issue isn't exclusive to Shark.

Keeping it simple

My complaints here are mostly about one specific vacuum, but I've noted a general tendency to over-complicate and under-explain in Shark's newer, fancier vacuum options (and in fact its other products, too – looking at you, Shark Glam multistyler).

It might be a knock-on effect of having too many cool features to work with – the list of automation capabilities seems to grow ever longer with every launch – but even so, I think things could be handled better.

In my tests, the brand that scored highest on usability was Shark's biggest rival, Dyson. If you compare the two brands, the difference is night and day: Dyson spells out the cleaning mode in words on screen (intuitively color-coded for extra clarity), and in its Auto mode, it'll show you what's being sucked up on a moving bar graph that packs in plenty of information but is still easily understandable. It shows there are ways to handle complex information without forgoing user experience. (Here's more on my take on Shark vs Dyson vacs, if you're interested.)

Shark has proven it can deliver outstanding cleaning, so with a little more attention paid to usability, it could have the power to create the perfect vacuum.

The best vacuums

➡️ Read our full guide to the best vacuums
1. Best overall:
Dreame R20 Cordless
2. Best upright:
Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum
3. Best premium:
Dyson Gen5detect
4. Best for pet hair:
Shark PowerDetect Cordless